A former athletic director at a Baltimore area high school has been sentenced to four months in jail for using artificial intelligence to create a racist and antisemitic audio clip impersonating the school’s principal. Dazhon Darien, 32, pleaded guilty to disturbing school operations, a misdemeanor charge, as part of a plea deal.
According to prosecutors, Mr. Darien had faced additional charges including theft, stalking, and retaliating against a witness. He entered an Alford plea to the disturbing school operations charge, allowing him to maintain his innocence while pleading guilty.
Mr. Darien, the former athletic director of Pikesville High School, created an audio clip containing derogatory remarks about Black and Jewish students in an attempt to smear the school’s principal, Eric Eiswert. Problems with Mr. Darien had surfaced in late 2023, leading up to the release of the audio clip in January 2024.
Mr. Eiswert had reportedly had conversations with Mr. Darien about his contract not being renewed due to poor performance and failure to follow procedures. The fabricated recording, which was posted on Instagram, caused turmoil within Baltimore County Public Schools, where Mr. Eiswert serves as principal.
After his sentencing, Mr. Darien was returned to federal custody to face charges of sexually exploiting children and receiving child pornography. The school district declined to comment on the case, and efforts to reach Mr. Eiswert were unsuccessful.
It was revealed that Mr. Darien had searched for artificial intelligence tools, including those from OpenAI and Microsoft, to create the audio clip. The ease of creating deepfake videos using AI technology has raised concerns among researchers about the potential dangers of such technology.
The incident highlights the potential misuse of AI technology and the importance of ethical considerations in its use. As technology continues to advance, it is crucial to address the risks associated with deepfake content and ensure accountability for those who engage in malicious activities using AI.
